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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte
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2 Nephi 31 - This is the Way


Speaking of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Nephi proclaimed, "And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 31:21). When we use colloquially use the term "the gospel" as in "I know the gospel is true" or "I'm grateful for the gospel in my life" we usually lump together all aspects of the restored church in a very general way. Nephi, however, uses the term "the doctrine of Christ" very specifically to refer to faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. 

 I have often wondered why saving ordinances are so essential in the context of Heavenly Father's broader plan of salvation. At face value, what is baptism? Two people put on a certain color of clothes, stand in water, one mutters a few words, and the other is dunked. The entire ordinance may only take 30 seconds and yet this act, performed by priesthood authority, is the lynchpin of our salvation. Compared to the hours, months and years that constitute the rest of our lives, those 30 seconds have exponentially disproportionate importance. 

 Nephi gives a clue when he opens his prophesy regarding Christ's baptism by saying "the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding" (2 Nephi 31:3). I'd never really considered it before, but God designed the ordinance of baptism, and all other ordinances, for us. There is nothing intrinsically important about the white clothes, the words of the prayer, or immersing in water. The value is in the instructive and symbolic meaning to us. God does not need us to be baptized, we need us to be baptized, and the mode of baptism is tailored to the way humans learn and process information. God teaches us through parables, symbols, and signs. This is "our language" and it is the way for God to impress upon us the meaning of baptism and help us understand its importance.


 The pure and direct way Nephi summarizes the gospel of Jesus Christ and outlines the essence of our purpose on earth is among my favorite passages of scripture:

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, ... with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism ... then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 31:13).

 "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:19-20).

 I place many pressures and expectations on myself to do, be, and have all sorts of things. Re-reading this passage I am struck by how little my anxiety to achieve is helping me advance  on the path God has intended for me. What a powerful litmus test! Am I following God with real intent? Do I take upon myself the name of Christ? Do I feel the cleansing of the Holy Ghost and speak by his power? Am I moving forward? Do I rely on Christ? Am I hopeful about my life? Do I love all people? Do I feast on the scriptures?

 Application Questions:

 How has the symbolism of baptism, endowment, and sealing ordinances "given light unto your understanding?" How can you increase your understanding of those ordinances and make them more transformative in your life?

 Are you overcomplicating the gospel? What can you do to focus on the core principles and ordinances of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end? 

 Image Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte
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